Assemblywoman Sandy Galef has introduced A. 11242, a bill to prohibit ear cropping and tail docking. It is imperative that New York fanciers and concerned dog owners contact their representatives immediately to oppose this legislation. A person found guilty of tail docking would be guilty of a misdemeanor and could be sentenced up to one […]

Please send a letter to the New York Assembly Agriculture Committee   To defeat A. 11242, the New York Assembly bill that will ban ear cropping and tail docking, we need the help of all fanciers. We strongly urge you to contact the members of the Assembly Agriculture Committee immediately and voice your opposition to […]

  -- Board Approved Parent Clubs Request for New Competition -- The American Kennel Club® Board of Directors has granted the request of four Parent Clubs to approve the Working Dog Sport (WDS), effective January 1, 2007 with regulations to be approved by the AKC Board. The breeds approved to compete in AKC®'s newest sport […]

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 to approve an ordinance yesterday that requires all dogs, except those that are law enforcement dogs, service dogs or that qualify as "competition" dogs to be spayed or neutered. The ordinance will go into effect June 3rd. For more details please read our previous alert on […]

The Berkeley Citizens Humane Commission will meet again on Wednesday, May 17th to discuss a proposal to require mandatory spay/neuter of all “pit bulls.” It is vital that responsible dog owners and concerned breeders attend this meeting. Fanciers are also encouraged to contact their representative on the Berkeley City Council to oppose this measure. The […]

The Los Angeles County Supervisors will take a final vote on the proposed mandatory spay/neuter ordinance at their meeting this Tuesday, May 2nd. Dog owners wishing to breed or simply maintain an intact dog will have to pay a $60 per dog fee and meet a host of restrictive criteria. It is urgent that fanciers […]

Assembly Bill 2110 was recently amended and the new language will affect certain AKC sanctioned events. The bill will prohibit "live field coursing," which is now defined as "a competition in which dogs are, by the use of rabbits, hares, or foxes, assessed as to skill in hunting live rabbits, hares, or foxes." AB 2110 […]

City Councilor Sally Mayer is again proposing sweeping changes that would drastically limit fanciers' ability to breed and own dogs, while doing little to address the city's problems with irresponsible ownership. The proposal is currently set for a vote at the May 1st city council meeting. Fanciers are encouraged to attend the meeting, which will […]

  Clubs Encouraged to Hold Educational Events For AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day The American Kennel Club (AKC) is pleased to announce that the fourth annual AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day will be held on Saturday, September 16th. The goal of the initiative is to educate first-time dog owners about the responsibilities of dog ownership […]

Click here for an update to this Alert The Los Angeles County Animal Board of Supervisors will meet April 18th to discuss their proposal to require all dogs to be spayed or neutered unless their owner purchases a $60 intact animal license (currently $30) and meets the stringent criteria established by the county. The measure […]

  -- Gina Weiser, Rosalind Kraus and John Leininger Join Executive Field Staff; Walter Bebout Named Director of Canine Legislation; Penny Leigh and Phil Guidry to Internal Consulting Group; Michael Shea to Retire -- American Kennel Club Chief Operating Officer John Lyons today announced the appointments of six longtime fanciers to key positions at AKC. […]

  Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) today released a "Discussion Draft" of an amended version of S. 1139, the "Pet Animal Welfare Statute of 2005" (PAWS). The Discussion Draft includes language clarifying several original provisions and adds some new provisions which resulted from input following a November 2005 hearing on the […]

  --David Keene and Dr. William R. Newman Elected to Board of Directors; Incumbent Director Nina Schaefer Re-Elected; Ronald H. Menaker and David C. Merriam Re-Elected as Chairman and Vice Chairman Respectively -- The Annual Meeting of the AKC Delegates and subsequent meeting of the Board of Directors took place on March 14, 2006. David […]

The City of Long Beach voted this week to repeal its long-standing ban on breeding in favor of a more moderate breeder permit program. The change comes as a result of nearly two years of collaborate work by local fanciers, kennel clubs, and city officials. The American Kennel Club opposes unreasonable breeding restrictions, and we […]

-- Dog Experts Say Researching Breeds and Finding a Responsible Breeder Puts Your Pet in a Leading Role in Your Family. -- In light of the release this week of the film, "The Shaggy Dog," and the recent success of "8 Below" featuring Siberian Huskies, the American Kennel Club reminds moviegoers about the importance of […]

  AKC Board Chairman Ron Menaker today commented on the seizure of several hundred dogs from a kennel in Chester County, PA, citing it as an example of the need for more comprehensive legislation to protect pets. "This very sad case is an example of why we support the Pet Animal Welfare Statute (PAWS)," said […]

The Vermont Federation of Dog Clubs reports that S250, a bill to prohibit ear cropping in Vermont, has been scheduled for a hearing before the House Agriculture Committee on March 15th. Time and location are yet to be determined. Dog owners are strongly encouraged to attend the hearing and urge opposition to the bill! Vermont […]

The Louisville Metro Council Committee on Government Administration, Rules, Ethics, and Audit Agenda will meet at 4pm Monday, February 27th to discuss the proposed changes to the animal control ordinance. It is critical that fanciers and concerned dog owners contact their council members and ask them to oppose this measure. The American Kennel Club and […]

Fanciers have worked hard and have made significant progress in the Illinois State Legislature, which is considering several dangerous dog and breed-specific bills. Fanciers are also working to oppose breed-specific legislation (BSL) in Chicago. Below is an update on current "hot" initiatives facing Illinois residents. In the General Assembly: As Illinois dog owners may recall, […]

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has voted to delay a vote on changes to its animal control ordinance until April 25th. Although the board appears to have been persuaded that a breed-specific proposal is not in the best interests of the citizens, they have now directed staff to draft language requiring mandatory spay/neuter […]

The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors will hold a workshop on February 21st to discuss instituting a $200 intact animal fee, part of the proposed Animal Overpopulation Ordinance. The current license fee for an intact animal is $30. Fanciers are encouraged to attend the meeting which will be held at 2:30 in the Board Chambers […]

Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal has introduced H1686, a bill that will negatively impact owners of "pit bulls," defined as American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, and any dog exhibiting the characteristics of these breeds. Owners of pit bulls will be required to: Purchase a $500 permit for each pit bull owned. (No […]

Senator Santorum's staff and Senate legislative counsel have completed a draft of the revised PAWS bill. The draft was provided to the US Department of Agriculture and the 26 Senate co-sponsors of PAWS at a briefing last week for their review and comment. The Discussion Draft of PAWS will be made public after input from […]

$250, a bill to prohibit ear cropping in Vermont, passed the full Senate and now moves to the House for consideration. Dog owners are strongly urged to contact their Representatives immediately and ask them to oppose the bill! What the Bill Does: Under S250, owners who crop ears in Vermont will face a civil penalty […]

S250, a bill to prohibit ear cropping in Vermont, passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday and now moves to the full Senate. The bill was amended slightly to clarify that owners will not be penalized if they have their dogs' ears cropped in another state where the practice is legal. The new […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®) announced today that Carol Jo Stuart, of Peninsula, Ohio, has been named a recipient of the AKC Community Achievement Award for her love and support of all aspects of the canine community. The Metropolitan Cleveland Miniature Schnauzer Club (MCMSC), a group in which she serves as vice president and show […]

Under a new bill proposed in Virginia, all dogs and cats acquired from dealers, hobby breeders, pet shops and adoption agencies would be have to be sterilized and microchipped. Sponsored by Sen. W. Roscoe Reynolds, S55 defines a "dealer" as any person who sells or transfers companion animals (with the exception of rescue groups). The […]

Immediate help is needed to stop two poorly written bills that would hurt responsible dog owners in Illinois ! HB4213 Background: Introduced by Rep. Michael Tryon on December 1st, 2005, HB4213 automatically deems American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, "pit bulls," Pit Bull Terriers, Rottweilers and Staffordshire Terriers vicious and requires owners of these […]

Sen. Ann Cummings has introduced S250, a bill to prohibit ear cropping in Vermont. Violators would face a civil penalty of up to $3,000 for a first offense. Those who commit subsequent violations or who perform the procedure without anesthesia would face criminal charges. The bill does not prohibit owning, showing, buying or selling a […]

AKC and dog owners in Illinois are organizing against state and city measures that ban or severely restrict specific breeds of dogs. Phone calls, e-mails, and letters to legislators are urgently needed to stop these unfair proposals: State of Illinois HB4212: Introduced by Rep. Michael Tryon on December 1st, HB4212 would permit cities to regulate […]